Picking the right barcode format
Barcodes look similar but are very different under the hood. The right format depends on what scans your code:
- Code 128 — the workhorse for shipping labels, inventory, and asset tracking. Encodes any printable ASCII and packs more data into less space than Code 39.
- EAN-13 / UPC-A — the 12–13 digit codes printed on retail products worldwide. Use these only if the barcode will pass through retail point-of-sale.
- Code 39 — older but still widely supported. Common on ID badges and basic logistics where readability without a check digit is fine.
- ITF-14 — the larger code on the outside of shipping cartons. Designed to remain scannable on corrugated cardboard.
PNG vs SVG output
PNG is the safe default — every label printer and document tool accepts it. It's exported at 2× resolution so it stays crisp at the size you place it. SVG is vector, so it scales to any size without pixelation — ideal for print labels, packaging artwork, and Adobe Illustrator workflows.
Privacy by default
The barcode is rendered in your browser using JsBarcode and exported from the same canvas you see on screen. Your data is never sent to a server, so the tool is safe to use for SKUs, internal asset tags, prescription labels, and other sensitive identifiers.